Coming off a highly profitable 2012, life insurer AIA says it is committed to growing in Asia. CEO Mark Tucker tells the WSJ's Deborah Kan why Europe isn't on the list for expansion.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

... the the ... I never want a Wall Street Journal digital network joining me now Mark Tucker CEO and AIA market to feel ... you had a really did data announcement this mining eighty nine percent rise in profits ... for twenty twelve ... so isn't as much room for growth in twenty thirteen ... the profit figures released last the the the next week so ... the new business in a new operating profit ... the deal and the uneasy pieces grew twenty seven percent ... and in nineteen fifty operating profit grew ... twelve ... those of the key to the most important ... mystics Qassam on that's two banks ... the the the the top two lines on the ... investment situation can be quite a while ... the the the underlying quality of the business ... isn't determined by the Street sticks I just I just mentioned the tenure stronger markets for Hong Kong Singapore Malaysia ad I aam where much of an anti and ... said oh what what's the growth and where are you targeting growth for the coming year which which geographic locations ... the distance of the wills and comes in emerging markets ... oftentimes China now the hall fees ... Asia China related ... to the footprint is is perfect ... the penetration with a forty three trillion ... protection gap ... the three of them thirty seven million ... households coming into the shoot ... Statoil with me in G seven countries ... you can begin to understand the size of the opportunity and it's ... just a question of effective execution ... the ragtime at because All area name you are making a profit in China ... and comparatively speaking it's not as big in other regions ALM ... so my question is I mean AIA obviously Ippolito zones on its license to operate in China unlike other foreign competitors on the ground but was having difficulties that you knew how to overcome ... in terms of the ... deal Tuesday ... some images ... just get down to Austin effective execution ... it's it's down to making two of my products ... his two week training on to me agents in the ... the best possible I said that given the go to what they call it exactly are you targeting for them this growth is at the high net worth individuals is that the growing middle class a mean where do you see the big is ... the of the decline is coming from emerging middle cos he's a bunch of people ... coming to ensure that the House of Commons unchanged for the first time ... I I I you looking at acquisitions I am going for it and if so in what regions ... then we spend ninety nine percent of Sino Kenyan organic guy ... on the long distance ... on Tuesday confirmed the opportunities that come up ... makes financial sense to us that meets our criteria will look at them ... the combined knowledge we we are very much focused on on organic ... ok ... what about your appetite as we are at look you right now and in other deals there in terms of acquisitions and valuations unit with lower or a is it isn't a place that he would consider an expanding ... city don't ... think we are very clear we have ... the unique could contribute to ... the rules economy sedan ... you can opposition we match ... the best place in the world to be ... we have sixteen markets in Asia with ... exposure to Europe with the US ... we are growing economies ... we have a stronger banking system we have a million ... customers in addition to the middle cos he's ... more like ingredients ... we got the feeling mostly with like much of the company ... ay ay ay this is quite common I am a decline of public campaign and at separating itself from AIG adding We in a UU and ... clean that I'm public at its ads saying that you no longer what why why do you think it was so important to do so in this region ... is it ... the bloodiest you we were ... still talking AIG and and and some people to do ... and we were doing was recognizing that defines them ... AIG sold fourteen billion stock and I know he ... the final showdown with completion ... we truly are dependent ... on what he wanted to get the job ... it was that being ... just letting people know that we were to the ... an independent company in the sense was important to us ... at K State Aiello puts you never want hurting for growth this year ... the wildfire season is again moving on on agency ... we ought to be an agency to